Sol Systems’ Anna Noucas participates in a volunteer rooftop PV build in Northeast Washington, DC.
As a solar energy company, Sol Systems truly walks the talk in advancing our clean energy future. Historically, the firm has provided both financial and human capital to support sustainability initiatives. We call this our Heart and Sol.
To do our part to ensure a more sustainable future, we launched our Giving That Matters philanthropic initiative rooted in the pillars of sustainability:
- Environmental Protection: The world’s health is our health.
- Social Equity: Society’s well-being is our well-being.
- Economic Prosperity: Thriving businesses support thriving communities.
Since inception, we’ve delivered over 500MW of clean power in more than 25 states across the nation. To date, our projects have offset 421,666 metric tons of carbon emissions which is equivalent to over a million road trips from coast to coast.
Sol’s sustainability initiatives, beyond financing and developing onsite and offsite solar, include: donating compost, procuring eco-friendly breakroom and office supplies, and purchasing 3213kWh of wind RECs at the headquarters office. Additionally, we’ve organized 5K fundraisers nationwide to both draw awareness to the benefits of solar energy and fundraise on behalf of industry nonprofits including: Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Solar Foundation, and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute.
Sol’s philosophy focuses on the holistic concept of sustainability, which transcends in our team’s personal giving and volunteer outreach endeavors. Various team members donate money and time outside of work to fulfilling the economic, social, and environmental issues that face the communities we live and work in.
Most recently, Leslie Barkemeyer, associate general counsel at Sol Systems, used her bridal shower as a way to the give back to the D.C. community and the solar industry. Rather than a traditional bridal brunch, the future Mrs. Hodge called on her family, friends, and colleagues to help her fundraise to sponsor a rooftop PV solar installation for a low-income family in Washington, DC. Through a program with GRID Alternatives, Leslie, her four bridesmaids, and four women from Sol traded in their heels for hard hats to install the racking system, inverter, and module for a 3.6kW system with 12 panels at a private residence in northeast DC.
Leslie’s team for the 3.6kW PV installation with GRID Alternatives.
With over 20 million low-income, owner-occupied, single-family homes in the United States, the GRID Alternatives staff is dedicated to making solar affordable for families with the most financial need, and exemplified their commitment to the cause by allowing our group to move forward with the build despite the inclement weather policy.
“We are so fortunate. We don’t need any houseware. So why not pay it forward.” said Leslie. “It was fascinating working on the construction side. We did a small residential project, so the type of work is not entirely analogous to the work that goes into the commercial and utility scale solar projects we focus on at Sol Systems. Still, it was very cool to learn how to ground, install inverters and drill modules into racking. The build was complex and certainly required a team.”
To date, Leslie and her bridal shower guests have reach 66% of their fundraising goal. If you’re interested in supporting their efforts to provide solar for all residents in Washington, D.C. donate here.
ABOUT SOL SYSTEMS
Sol Systems, a national solar finance and development firm, delivers sophisticated, customized services for institutional, corporate, and municipal customers. Sol is employee-owned, and has been profitable since inception in 2008. Sol is backed by Sempra Energy, a $25+ billion energy company.
Over the last eight years, Sol Systems has delivered more than 500MW of solar projects for Fortune 100 companies, municipalities, universities, churches, and small businesses. Sol now manages over $650 million in solar energy assets for utilities, banks, and Fortune 500 companies.
Inc. 5000 recognized Sol Systems in its annual list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies for four consecutive years. For more information, please visit www.solsystems.com.